Chapter 873

A couple of days later, Noreen received an invitation to Healy’s engagement party.

It featured a photo of the couple.

Noreen took a look.

There was definitely a resemblance.

She handed the invitation to Sophia and told her to prepare a gift to send on her behalf.

“You’re not going?” Sophia asked.

Noreen shook her head. “No.”

An engagement was a happy occasion. It was best if everyone remained in high spirits.

Coincidentally, on the day of Healy’s engagement, she actually didn’t have much on her plate. It was the weekend, and she was working from home.

Her current projects were mostly on track, granting her a rare afternoon of leisure.

The apartment was quiet and felt a bit empty.

Claire had accompanied Rosalind to her hometown in the countryside for the day to enjoy some fresh air.

Ever since Felix had stood her up during their mandatory divorce cooling-off period, Claire had been staying in Rivercrest City.

Noreen had suggested she file for a contested divorce.

To meet the legal requirement of a two-year separation, she advised Claire to avoid seeing Felix entirely.

Claire agreed and had even consulted Coley for detailed legal advice.

Coley had highlighted a few key points.

During the separation, it was best they didn’t meet, and absolutely no physical intimacy was allowed, as it would reset the separation timeline.

Many couples aiming for a contested divorce failed precisely because they slipped up on that rule.

Claire had memorized every word.

Noreen checked her phone. Her social media feed was flooded with photos of the Naylor Automotive Group heir’s engagement party.

She liked a few posts, locked her screen, and gazed out the window.

It was a beautiful day, filled with rare, warm autumn sunlight.

Suddenly, she craved wontons from The Banyan Tree Eatery.

That kind of mom-and-pop shop didn’t offer delivery, and wontons always tasted best fresh out of the pot anyway.

Noreen grabbed her car keys and headed out.

Traffic was light, and she soon arrived at the eatery.

The place hadn’t changed a bit. It felt frozen in time, a stark contrast to the rapidly expanding city around it.

The massive banyan tree was just as lush and green as she remembered.

It reminded her of the WhatsApp profile picture she had used for years, which had been taken right under this very tree.

She had long since abandoned that photo, leaving it in the past along with everything else.

The eatery itself had been renovated, though the style was practically identical to the original.

They had just updated the sign and replaced some broken chairs.

Noreen walked in and was just

about to order a bowl of shrimp wontons when her eyes met Seths. He was sitting at one of the tables.

Time seemed to freeze.

Countless discarded memories flashed through her mind.

She was jolted back to reality by the owner’s warm greeting, ushering her to take a seat.

The owner looked much older than

Noreen remembered, her hair

graying at the temples, but she still

wore the same cheerful smile, What can I get you, miss?

Noreen opened her mouth.

From the adjacent table, Seth spoke up first. “Shrimp wontons in chicken broth. Extra cilantro.”

The owner’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “You two are together? Then you should sit at the same table!”

Noreen wanted to deny it, but clarifying felt unnecessary.

Making a point to explain would only make it awkward.

She simply took the seat across from Seth.

After a couple of days of healing, the swelling on Seth’s jaw had gone down.

But the cut at the corner of his mouth was still visible.

They sat in total silence.

The owner finished boiling the wontons and brought the steaming bowls over.

“Shrimp in chicken broth with ext

cilantro for you. Three-delicacy. wontons with extra dried shrimp

for

you. And some complimentary eggs for the both of you.”

Just as Noreen reached for a tea egg, Seth smoothly grabbed them first.

He peeled two eggs, meticulously separating the whites from the yolks onto different

plates.

He then pushed the plate of egg whites toward Noreen before finally picking up his spoon to eat.

Noreen sat in silence for nearly thirty seconds before slowly picking up her own spoon.